Digesting & Designing Data

I’m a complete nerd when it comes to data design. It holds such high importance in communicating real-time facts, that it’s hard to ignore the visual trends of the category. If you take a gander at Pinterest, you’ll see endless styles that have emerged, to decipher the numerical chaos. This past weekend, Benedict Carey of The New York Times devoted a significant analysis to the topic, in relation to perceptual learning:

And so it is in many fields, whether predicting climate, flagging potential terrorists or making economic forecasts. The information is all there, great expanding mountain ranges of it. What’s lacking is the tracker’s instinct for picking up a trail, the human gut feeling for where to start looking to find patterns and meaning.

As we become more attuned to mapping data and translating it for the masses, we’ll be more equipped to embrace and evolve into the future. Never before has the art of tracking patterns been this important.

March 31, 2015 | By: Shayna Kulik

Color, Conversation & Hanes Underwear

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gRJ9ko0nZmI

Have you seen the latest Hanes spot? Chances are, maybe not, as the YouTube page has only 118 views. Parts of it are pretty cool, we’d recommend giving it a go. The concept reminds us a bit of Gap’s Be Bright campaign from a while back, but has clever synchronization and pattern mash-ups that transition human puzzles into cotton graphics.

Complimenting the TV spot, the social media component plays off of color, hoping to create chatter about an otherwise taboo topic. Would you tweet the color of your underwear? Hanes is hoping you will, by utilizing a Pinterest-like layout and pre-populated tweetable content, with a campaign entitled, What’s Your #undercovercolor? Have a look, play with the wheel, and let us know what you think…

September 6, 2013 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: Fashion Futures

Nowadays, the fashion engine is moving forward at a faster pace than ever before, with advancing technologies and new materials reinventing clothing as we know it. You may not realize, but the technology that goes into the design process – from textiles to construction – has been steadily evolving at impressive rates so that the “future” we envisioned has arrived – and it’s only getting more inventive.

Fashion Futures explores the surprising sources that inspire futuristic garment design such as: biological science, climate change, space suits, artificial intelligence, genetic engineering and nanotechnology. Offering up a fascinating survey of these new directions, Fashion Futures charts the transformational products, design processes, maverick materials and groundbreaking practitioners that are revolutionizing the industry.

Design expert and author Bradley Quinn also explores radical retail operations, forecasting and its relationship with other disciplines. Featuring inspirational interviews, design illustrations and prototypes, this read’s educational and thought-provoking for any fashion enthusiast.

Cover image via Colette

March 29, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Book Review: Precursor & Tatyana

On my most recent trip to Japan I made my way out to Daikanyama, an indie pocket within Tokyo where a new bookshop recently opened. The visit was pretty memorable, as the establishment known as Tatyana was an interesting spin on the brick and mortar institution of literary commerce. With impecable curation, decor and ambiance, people are already saying this institution sets a new industry benchmark. One of the books I lost an hour to was Precursor.

The compilation showcases a vast array of young designers moving fluidly between established creative titles. From graphic designer and advertiser to street artist, video director, typographer, illustrator, product designer, and musician. Despite or because of the way they work, they are profoundly innovative and remarkably determined at realizing their creative visions and personal style.

Precursor introduces outstanding young design talent from around the world. Although regional creative differences and design traits still exist, the examples collected truly speak to the Patten Pulp aesthetic.

Imagery via edhv

January 5, 2012 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Tribal Textures

What can we say about tribal that hasn’t been said before? Not much, and to be honest, that’s the beauty of today’s post. Tribal patterns transcend time and reemerge every season on new cuts, fabrics and applications. This category has become a reliable staple in home, fashion, web and graphic design. Keeping within a monotone palette, these plates from the recent gift show don’t overwhelm the eye with their textures and are easily translatable onto pillows or bedding.

Showing similar styles, Ken Carbone, a branding and identity expert recently shared his personal pistachio project with Canon. “For a couple of years I’ve been recycling the shells to create hundreds of tiny primitive looking paintings. The combination of the raw, wood-like shell and burnt umber paint results in an oddly tribal effect. I enjoy the ‘variations on a theme’ drill. It’s good for the mental muscles and is similar to the process I might use when designing a logo.”

For those of you headed to Austin next month, consider stopping by Uncommon Objects on S. Congress Ave. A personal favorite, the entire story is like a living breathing mood board. Inspiration lies in every corner and it’ll be a welcome retreat from the daily grind.

February 8, 2011 | By: Shayna Kulik

Trend: Technology Patterns for Women

From time to time we highlight brands that incorporate digital trends into their product design. From print collages to Missoni pillows, it’s important to note the designers who are embracing the pixel. The latest round of products are attempting to lure in a female customer:

The Parrot Minikit Primavera is a limited edition bluetooth portable hands free phone from the UK that’s incorporated a floral motif into it’s surface design.Similarly, the latest laptop from HP Envy has done the same thing with their laser etched aluminum cover.

Magnifying this pattern for their retail display, the Alessi store in Midtown Manhattan has fully embraced this movement, proving kitchenware can at once be organic and future-forward.

December 2, 2010 | By: Shayna Kulik